Rail-cleaning device



No. 6ll,290. Patented Sept. 27. I898.

S. A. SHORT.

BAIL CLEANING DEVICE.

(Application filed June 26, 1897.)

(No Model.)

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Wi wam WWW NITED STATES SAMUEL A. SHORT, OF ALTOONA, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAIL-CLEANING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 611,290, dated September 27, 18 98.

Application filed Tune 26, 1897.

the drivers and to effect such cleansing before the wheels of the cars of the train come in contact with the sand.

My invention comprises an apparatus preferably arranged between the rear drivers of the locomotive and the front of the tender and connected with the steam-generator and with the water-tank and also with an air-pressure apparatus, such as the air-brake system,

whereby steam, air, and water or any one or any two of these agents may be forcibly projected against the rails behind the rear drivers in order effectually to remove the sand that may have been deposited upon the rails, all as I will hereinafter more particularly set forth and finally claim.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, in both figures of which like parts are similarly designated, Figure 1 is a transverse section, and Fig. 2 is a central crosssection.

In one form of my invention I employ a cylinder or reservoir a, which is suitably suspended or arranged between the rear drivingwheels of the engine and the front wheels of the tender and attached to the tender. This cylinder is connected by pipes 17 and c or in any other suitable manner with the watertank, and the pipe I) has a nipple (Z, which enters the cylinder. The pipe I) also has a valve 6, by which the admission of the water may be controlled. The heads of the cylinder at are provided with bosses f, from which extend pipes g to just above the rails of the track.

72. is a strainer arranged transversely of the cylinder and communicating with the bosses f.

2' is a pipe preferably having reduced ends arranged adjacent to the inlets to the pipes g,

Serial No. 642,540. (No model.)

and this pipe 71 is suspended bya pipe j from the boss or nipple is, into which is inserted a Y-pipe Z, one of whose branches, as m, is connected with the steam-supply of the engine orboiler of a locomotive and the other, as n, is connected with any suitable air-pressure apparatus, and both of these pipes m and n may have suitable valves, as m and a, respectively, to open and close them.

Now when it is desired to remove sand from the rails water may be admitted to the cylinder through pipes b c d and allowed to overflow through the pipes 9 down to the rails and wash off the sand. If it be desired to apply the water with greater force, steam or air, either or both, may be admitted through the pipes m and n, whereby the water will be forci bly expelled. I prefer to use air and water in conjunction in cold weather instead of steam for the reason that the steam-vapors obstruct the view of the trainmen.

By the use of my invention an engine will haul two or three more loaded cars, because the removal of the sand reduces the traction of the car-wheels and thus reduces the duty of the engine, and, moreover, the wear of carwheels and of rails is greatly reduced.

WVhat I claim is 1. A rail-cleaning device, comprising a 'reservoir, outlets therefor extending over the rails of the railroad-track, and means to supply water, steam and air or any combination thereof to the said outlets, substantially as described.

2. A rail-cleaning device, comprising a reservoir, a water-supply therefor, outlets leading from such reservoir to the rails, and steam and air inlets opening adjacent to said out SAMUEL A. SHORT.

Witnesses: W. H. STEPHENS,

H. W. SHORT. 

